Ducks have no answers for Bruins

BOSTON -- Whatever smidgen of momentum the Ducks had hoped to gain from consecutive victories over the Columbus Blue Jackets and Buffalo Sabres wasn't nearly enough Thursday night against the leading team in the NHL's Eastern Conference.

After starting off fairly well, the Ducks surrendered a goal to rookie defenseman Matt Hunwick late in the first period, four more in the second and went down to a humbling 6-0 loss to the Boston Bruins at TD Banknorth Garden.

"It found a way to turn in their favor in a hurry, and we didn't respond well to the adversity," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "That's a first-place hockey club, and they played like it."

While the Bruins (42-12-8) moved 21 points in front of the second-place Montreal Canadiens in the Northeast Division and remained nine points ahead of the runner-up Washington Capitals in the East, the Ducks (30-28-5) only added to their own precarious position in the Stanley Cup playoff race in the West.

"We need answers for nights like this because we've had a few," Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer said. "We just haven't been consistent. We need to be better."

Niedermayer, who finished minus-4 and was also on the ice for a power-play goal by Boston's ChuckKobasew, had no quarrel with Carlyle's assessment that the Ducks were largely "inept."

Winger Rob Niedermayer and center Ryan Getzlaf were minus-3, while goaltender Jean-SebastienGiguere surrendered three goals on only eight shots before being pulled 3:43 into the second period.

"Tough night all around," Giguere said. "I don't know what to say. It's just frustrating. That's pretty much what it is."

Giguere never saw Hunwick's shot, which came from near the left-wing faceoff dot after a Ducks neutral-zone turnover and a deflected pass. Bruins winger Michael Ryder, who like Kobasew finished with two goals, gave Boston a 2-0 lead 1:59 into the second period when his shot deflected off the stick of Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger and past Giguere.

Kobasew finished Giguere's evening with a shot from the middle of the right circle that sailed between the goalie's pads.

NOTES

Defenseman Ryan Whitney, acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier in the day, played 24 minutes, 19 seconds in his Ducks debut, second only to Pronger's 25:42, and was on the ice for only one goal, a power-play strike by Ryder. ... Ducks defenseman Sheldon Brookbank picked up a game-misconduct penalty late in the second period for being the third man into a fight between teammate Mike Brown and Bruins winger Milan Lucic. ... Ducks defenseman Bret Hedican continued to experience back problems during the game and played only 12:43.

THREE STARS

1. MICHAEL RYDER: Boston winger had two goals and an assist in second game back since missing seven because of facial surgery

2. TIM THOMAS: Previously unheralded Bruins goalie continued outstanding season with 35 saves for his 11th career shutout

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